United Airlines plane lands safely in Sydney after mayday call

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SYDNEY (Reuters) - A United Airlines flight carrying 194 passengers and crew from Los Angeles landed without incident in Sydney early on Thursday after a mayday call caused by low fuel triggered a major emergency response in Australia’s largest city.

“United flight 839 from Los Angeles to Sydney landed safely ... following a mechanical issue,” Madhu Unnikrishnan, a spokesman for United Airlines, said in an emailed statement.

“The aircraft taxied to the gate and all customers disembarked normally,” he said.

A spokeswoman for Air Services Australia said the Boeing 787 triggered a mayday call due to low fuel reserves.

“No passengers were at risk at any time,” she said.

A spokesman for Sydney Airport declined to comment.

The New South Wales state police said in a statement a major emergency response was activated at Sydney airport after “a pilot reported a problem”.

Some major roads around the airport were closed as a precaution at 6.36 a.m. local time (2036 GMT Wednesday). The plane landed safely and roads were re-opened three minutes later.